Current techniques and future trends in embedded system's virtualization

Abstract

SUMMARY Traditionally, virtualization has been adopted by enterprise industry to make better use of the general purpose processors (single and multicore) besides improving the utilization of existing computational resources, especially in data centers. Until recently, its use in embedded systems (ESs) seemed to be a distant, unnecessary, and unfeasible reality. However, with the rise of each more powerful multiprocessed ESs, typically implemented as multiprocessor system‐on‐chip, virtualization has become a very promising technique to achieve and improve functionalities in future multiprocessor system‐on‐chips. One of the main advantages of virtualizing ESs is to improve the software design quality because legacy software can be reused along with newer applications. Also, we have the classic use cases, such as allowing several operating systems (OSs) to work in the same physical resource, simultaneously. Still, we can provide more secure ESs by splitting the system into user application OS and security certified OS, for instance. Moreover, depending on the way that embedded virtualization is employed, it may be even possible to reduce manufacturing costs and energy consumption levels. However, it is well understood that although ESs deal with increasingly more powerful solutions, they are still far more restricted than general purpose computers, especially in terms of area, memory size, and power consumption. In this article, we provide an extensive analysis of what is being currently offered as embedded virtualization solution, the pros and cons, besides presenting an innovative proposal regarding virtualization for restricted embedded architectures and its possible advantages. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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